Foyt to be inducted into Houston Sports Hall of Fame

Foyt to be inducted into Houston Sports Hall of Fame

AJ Foyt is set to be inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame during a red-carpet dinner and awards show on February 6th.

“I was born and raised in Houston and I’ve never left. I don’t care how many times you’ve been honored, it is really special to be honored in your hometown,” Foyt said. “And I’m glad to know I won’t be the oldest one there!”

Joining Foyt in the 2019 class are Olympic gold medalist and two-time world heavyweight champion George Foreman; 95-year-old Hall of Famer golfer Jack Burke Jr., who won the Masters and the PGA Championship in the same year (1956); and Houston Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini, who led the “Luv Ya Blue” Oilers to two consecutive AFC titles.

Honorees will receive their plaque on the Houston Sports Walk of Fame, individually designed rings created by Diamond Cutters International and a custom Knot Standard blazer on stage.

“Celebrating a Lifetime of Houston Sports” is the theme for this year’s awards ceremony which will honor the 70th anniversary of Burke’s first professional win (1949), the 60th anniversary of Foyt’s debut in the Indianapolis 500 (1958), the 50th anniversary of Foreman winning gold in the 1968 Olympics and the 40th anniversary of Pastorini winning back-to-back AFC titles (1978-79).

Foyt and his fellow inductees will be joining inaugural Hall of Famer class members Nolan Ryan, Earl Campbell and Hakeem Olajuwon who were honored last year, united by the theme of each wearing the No. 34 in their careers.

The second annual Houston Sports Awards will be streamed live on Houston ABC affiliate KTRK channel 13 (ABC13.com). It will be televised on AT&T SportsNet Southwest immediately following the Houston Rockets-Sacramento Kings game that night.